12th January 2021
Government must not repeat mistakes of the past and should improve care system now
EPIC-Empowering People In Care, welcomes the publication of the long-awaited report by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
Speaking in response to the report’s publication, EPIC warned that the State must avoid replicating the failures of the past by urgently improving Ireland’s care system.
Marissa Ryan, CEO of EPIC said: “This will be the sixth report of investigation into the treatment of children in state and religious-run institutions. If these reports are to have value, the state must use this learning to urgently improve the quality of care in Ireland now. We are asking the Government to invest in robust research and analysis on the situation of children and young people in care and after care – which has been sorely lacking.”
EPIC is calling on the government to expedite the commissioning of a 10-year longitudinal study of young people leaving care, first recommended by the Ryan Report in 2009, and is also asking the government to prioritise funding for research into the care system. Unlike its UK and EU neighbours, Ireland has failed to prioritise this historically, which EPIC believes has hampered the development of a quality child protection and welfare system.
“The findings of this report are a terrible indictment of the Government’s treatment of generations of children who were ignored and silenced by those charged with their care and protection” Ryan continued.
“The State now has the opportunity to build a safer, kinder and more efficient care system which puts children and young people at the centre. Having spent billions of Euro on investigations into the failures of care in the past, we hope that resource constraints will not be an excuse to provide anything less than the best possible care for every child in the future.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Notes to editors:
- Spokespeople are available for interviews.
- EPIC is a national advocacy organisation which works directly with children and young people in the care system and after care.
Contact information:
Karla Charles, Policy Manager | EPIC | karlacharles@epiconline.ie | Office: (01) 872 7661| mobile: 086 835 5136
For updates, please follow @epicireland on Twitter and www.epiconline.ie
About EPIC:
EPIC is a national voluntary organisation that works with and for children and young people who are currently living in care or who have experience of living in care. This includes those in residential care, foster care, relative care, hostel, high support and special care. EPIC also works with young people preparing to leave care and those in aftercare. EPIC’s National Advocacy and Participation programmes are designed to ensure children and young adults in care have a voice and are listened to on issues affecting their lives. EPIC is a national service with offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.